Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto

The Grand Prix of Toronto was a Champ Car World Series race held annually from 1986 to 2007, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The track is an 11 turn 2.824 kilometre track and is run at Exhibition Place. The name of the race was changed in 2006 from the Molson Indy Toronto to the Molson Grand Prix of Toronto after it was purchased by the Champ Car World Series from Molson Sports and Entertainment and Molson dropped title sponsorship. The name was also changed to distance Champ Car from the rival Indy Racing League (IRL), which had gained the exclusive right to use the "Indy" name after 2002. In 2007, Steelback Brewery signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal to become the event’s title sponsor; the event is held at Exhibition Place and is now called the Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto. This marks the first title sponsor change since the event started in 1986. [http://www.grandprixtoronto.com] . Following Champ Car/IndyCar unification, the race was cancelled for the 2008 season. The race will be run again in 2009 as the Honda Grand Prix of Toronto.

In the 1996 race, American driver Jeff Krosnoff was killed in a crash. In that same crash volunteer corner marshall Gary Avrin was killed, marshall Barbara Johnston also received injuries in the crash and was treated and released Sunday evening. In 1977 and 1978 the race, then named the Molson Diamond Indy and sanctioned by USAC was held at Mosport International Raceway in nearby Bowmanville, Ontario. The first Indy race held in Canada was the 1967 Telegram Trophy Race at Mosport which was won by Bobby Unser, his 1st career Indy victory.

The Toronto Indy is one of five Canadian circuits to hold an Indy/Champ Car race, the others being Mont-Tremblant, Sanair, Montreal, and Vancouver.

2008 cancellation

The unification of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League was announced on February 22, 2008, and the Grand Prix of Toronto's future was left in doubt. After attempts were made to preserve the race for 2008, it was confirmed on March 5, 2008 that the race has been cancelled.

2009 revival

On May 15, 2008, Andretti Green Racing (co-owned by Michael Andretti) purchased the assets of the former Grand Prix of Toronto. [ [http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/story/?id=237868&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main Andretti Green buys Toronto Champ Car race.] ] On July 30, 2008 it was confirmed that the race will return to Toronto on July 12, 2009. [ [http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/story/?id=244833&lid=sublink04&lpos=headlines_main Toronto, Edmonton on 2009 IndyCar Schedule.] ]

Past winners

USAC

Indy Lights

References

External links

* [http://www.grandprixtoronto.com Grand Prix of Toronto]